What the Round the Island is really about.....

[lw395]

Islandsailor, I was not criticising you particularly, it sounds as if you have a balanced view of it.
There are some RTI competitors who I found quite worrying in their attitude, accepting not being in control with the kite up etc, not being able to gybe when required, not seeing situations forming ahead. I have not taken part the last couple of years, previously I helmed 7 times and crewed a couple before that. My feeling is that standards of seamanships are falling in this (and one or two other) event, to the extent that I would now think twice about taking part.
I only ever did it for fun, it was a great day out, and I'm moderately chuffed with my best time of 7hrs 7min and my best place of just about in the top third of my IRC group. I think my crew all enjoyed it.
We were not a serious crew, it was the only race we did together but we always did a practice day or evening the week or so before to make sure we could handle the boat competently. kite up kite down, gybe kite.
You don't have to win to enjoy racing.

 

[islandsailor]

I am in no way suggesting that you have missed the point of the race - great to go out and try and win your class,

I am purely pointing out that this is a different type of race and that if you have 1700 entries one or two are not going to know what they are doing it's not right but it's how it is, and without the 1700 boats and only the IRC fleet it wouldn't be the same race.

 

[Cutter]

Having (tried to) move from the islandsailor to flaming camp this time I can see both sides. Did the RTI in my Dehler for many years and now on a J109 which has done ok in our first season. Think both sides are right but did find there were some ISC groups where the Rules were only vaguely imprinted....
Glad everyone on board had such a good day. For what its worth I found staying out a bit on the final leg allowed me to build a steady speed and made up for the tide and the loss of spped and aggravation of each tack. But for the liners intervention we would have finished ahead of boats that had tacked along the shore.
Enjoy

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

islandsailor, it sounds to me as if you are a very well meaning and experienced group who 'entertained' the youngsters to a day out.
The dangers to the inexperienced sailor, is that they get put off first time or in their early experiences. It sounds as if you got the balance right. The fact that they were involved in a 'race' and could compare themselves loosely in a bizarre way to some Olympians who were definatly in there racing, is in itself a thrill to youngsters. At least it was for my two children who were part of my crew.

As a retired secondary school teacher and having been a coach of a particular water sport to World Championship level, I have come to sail yachts at a late age. I see another slant to this discussion in that we should educate through the physical and stretch and extend the abilities and experiences of our young charges so they are better for it.
Be aware that to over cosset young people is in itself a problem with society today in the U.K.
To those youngsters who are extended and tested it may be the making of them and give some hope to all our futures, as leaders are in demand.
So when they have had their 'jolley' and are competant, they may like and benefit to go for more advanced sails. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

hello 'cutter', yes to get out from the pack did us well too. We took an even wider course and went up the shallows close to the mainland and got well away from the big ships too.
My daughter who navigated,( her first time of ever doing so outside the day skipper and coastal skipper classroom ), advised that on her calculations of distance, forcast windspeed, wind shadow of the island and tide, hindrence by other yachts/tacking etc.we should do so. It enabled us to overtake hundreds of yachts who were following the leader rather like sheep. It isn't rocket science!

 

[Twister_Ken]

No less a luminary than the late great Bruce Banks did that in one RTI, in the days when his Windsprite was an OOD34. We were second in class and close behind him at Bem Ledge, but we sailed the usual route. We then wondered where he'd gone. He finished over an hour ahead of us!

 

[fireball]

[ QUOTE ]
I am purely pointing out that this is a different type of race and that if you have 1700 entries one or two are not going to know what they are doing it's not right but it's how it is, and without the 1700 boats and only the IRC fleet it wouldn't be the same race.

[/ QUOTE ]
The original issue was with corporate charter boats with Pro skippers who put everything up and try to race it as though it has a full racing crew - and get themselves into situations that they can't (or won't) get themselves out of - blatantly ignoring rules that they must know to hold their ticket.

This is a world apart from the casual skipper with friends/family racing around the island who generally know a good dose of rules and sail by them.

The former is what needs to be resolved as it is basically a skippered spectator boat running around the island getting in the way whilst the latter is absolutely fine, and whilst there may be some grey areas at marks, generally they all have a good time.

Whether you take your racing seriously or not it isn't an issue - but by entering everyone has agreed to abide with the racing rules and sailing instructions.

from the RRS:[ QUOTE ]
FAIR SAILING
A boat and her owner shall compete in compliance with recognized
principles of sportsmanship and fair play.

[/ QUOTE ]
IMO, deliberately breaking the rules is not fair play or within the spirit of the RTIR

 

[chewi]

You did well then, there was no wind on the startline where I was at 0910!
I thought was well positioned for that start at 0907 to harden up and pass inside the ODM but God switched his fan off and I drifted outside it, along with a good dozen other boats.
It was 40 minutes later that we found enough wind to sail EAST and Uptide just go get round the ODM and start properly.
I finished at 2154

Colubra Cobra 750 sail 1142, Blue flag class 8D

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

Hi Andrew, we feared that may happen to us if we got too near the ends of the start line with so little air. We therefore stayed very central and at the start we thought we had crossed over too soon but had no recall.
It seemed an eternity before we did gradually drift West but drift we did and we were amazed at how many green flags were still on the line when we crossed it. It must have been extremely frustrating for those earlier with no wind and drifting East on the tide.
We emptied our Twister right out and so being very light she pointed far better than usual which was a nice surprise and with our slightly poor handicap compared to the other Twister, due to a larger mast, our very big genoa paid that deficit of the handicap back by more speed in the light airs than we are used to, which was very comforting. Mind you, the more I own a Twister the more she impresses me.
cheers, Scotty